Transient man sentenced for Silver Fire
After more than 10 years, a transient man responsible for starting the Aug. 7, 2013, Silver Fire in the Poppet Flats area pleaded guilty to 14 counts of recklessly and unlawfully setting fire to and burning, “and cause to be burned, an inhabited structure and inhabited property.”
PHOTO COURTESY RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
Stephen Patrick Medlock, 58, entered into a plea agreement Jan. 17 with the Riverside County District Attorney’s (DA) office “and was sentenced by Judge Jorge Hernandez to 16 years in prison,” according to John Hall at the DA’s office.
Hall said he has already served nearly six years of actual custody time and was given the same number of years credit under Penal Code section 4019 toward prison time for a total of 4,284 days.
The Silver Fire injured 12 firefighters and burned 60 structures. Medlock was arrested March 18, 2018, and initially was charged with 37 felonies, each carrying potential prison sentences of at least two years: 22 counts of arson of a structure or forest land and 15 counts of arson of an inhabited property.
